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Sunday, 28 July 2013

Second generation Pinaka multi-rocket system successfully test fired in Pokhran

The Pinaka Mark II Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System has undergone successful firing trials at Chandhan area in Pokhran field firing ranges. The trials which started on Friday were witnessed by officials of DRDO and Army trial teams.

“Pinaka Mark II trials were sucessfully conducted at the Pokhran field firing range. The target was successfully destroyed in Keru area which was located 30 km from the firing point. DRDO officers and Army officers have shown satisfaction on successful trails,” DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said.

“The state-of-art weapon for destroying and neutralizing enemy troop-concentration areas, communication centres air terminal complexes, gun and rocket locations and for laying mines by firing rockets with several warheads from launch vehicles has been developed by DRDO. High operational mobility, flexibility and accuracy are its major characteristics, which give the weapon an edge in modern artillery warfare for the Indian armed forces, the spokesperson said.

Meant to neutralise a large geographical area with a rapid salvo of rockets with a strike range of 40 km, Pinaka could fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds from a launcher. Pinaka was also put into field testing for assessing its capability during the Kargil conflict.

“The ongoing developmental trials at Pokhran field firing range in western Rajasthan by Army and scientists from DRDO were for the advance stage of development of Pinaka II weapon system. The development and trials will continue and the rocket is expected to be pressed into service any time now,” Gupta said.

Pinaka I is already in service.

Defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said, “Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire gives an edge to the Army during low-intensity warlike situation. The system’s capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it deadly for the enemy.”